Sri Kacchapeswarar Temple
 Although
it is believed that this temple was built by the Pallava dynasty, the precise
timeframe of the construction of this temple is unknown. This temple is
located in the centre of Kanchipuram. One version you might hear about
this temple would say that this temple is called "Kaccheeswarar Temple".
This stands for Kachi+Eswarar = "Lord of Kanchi". Kachi is another name
for Kanchipuram.
The real reason, however, is that the main deity in this temple is called Kacchapa Eswarar. "Kacchapam" is Sanskrit for "Turtle". Hindu mythology suggests that the main deity in this temple (Lord Shiva) was worshipped by Lord Vishnu in the form of a Turtle. Hence the name Kacchapeswarar Temple. At present, this is a full fledged Hindu temple under the administration of the Hindu Temples Department of the Tamilnadu Government. There are n't many sculptures or architectural wonders in this temple. So, there is not much of a feast for a camera in this temple. However, this is one of the few temples where you would have to pay a fee for taking a camera into the premises. |